Steel rule die



Patented Jan. 17, 1933 PATENT LOUIS E. SHAVT, OF EAST GRANGE, KEV]JERSEY, ASSIG-NQR ADABTCRAFT, INCOR- PORATED, OF NE'W YORK, N. Y., ACOBPOBATIQH GE DELAWARE STEEL RULE DIE Application filed March 4,

This invention relates to steel rule dies and more particularly tocentering devices therefor.

In the use of steel rule dies for cutting or trimming sheet material orblanks of various forms, the blanks are frequently of such form thatthey have a tendency to stretch and even though one end is properlypositioned by a guide when the blank is placed in the die, the productmay not be properly centered when the die closes and cuts. This resultsin improper trimming of portions of the blank.

In the present invention 1 provide a plurality of yieldable centeringdevices adapted to engage the blank and properly position it before theoie closes and thus center it before the trimming operationactuallytakesplace. I preferably provide the centering devices of difierent heightsso that certain of them engage the blank prior to others and thus centercertain portions of the blank at a time as the die is closin In theaccompanying drawing I haveshown one embodiment of the invention. In thedrawing,

Fig. 1 is a vertical, sectional view of a shaping die; l V

Fi 2 is a bottom, plan view of the upper mem er of the cutting die;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the cutting die slightly open;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lower member of the cutting die showing ablank in position;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the trimmed blank;

Fig. '6 is a similar view of the blank after folding;

Fig. 7 is a detailed, sectional view of tire folded blank; and v Fig. 8is a sectional view of a portion of the upper die member on an enlargedscale.

Referring to Fig. '1 of the drawing, the reference numerals 1 and 2designate, respec tively, the lower and upper members of shaping orforming die. While the present invention may be applied to various typesof blanks, I have illustrated it in connection with a display device ofthe type describe and cla med in the copending'application Rudolph M.Sanders, Serial No. 460.931, filed June 13, 1930 in which a cigardisplay simu- 1931. Serial No. 520,068.

lating a row or layer of cigars is arranged in a cigar box in a positionnormally occupied by the upper row of cigars. As shown in Figs. 5 to 7of the drawing, the display device is formed from a blank consisting ofa plurality of spaced embossings d simulating individual cigars, theindividual embossings being spaced as indicated at (l in Fig. 5 of thedrawing. The embossed blanks are preferably formed from a corrugatedsheet 7 as described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No520,067, filed March 4, 1931. This corrugated sheet is arranged theforming die, the lower or male member of which is provided with aplurality of projections 8 shaped to form the embossings a and adaptedto cooperate with similar shaped depressions 9 in the other half of thedie. Suitable heating means may be a ranged in the spaces 10 of the diemembers. I may employ heating coils or means may be provided forcirculating steam through the heating spaces of the shaping and formingdie.

In Figs. 2 to l of the drawing 1 have illustrated the cutting die. Asshown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the lower die member conists of a flatplate having guides 11 and 12 arranged on one side and one edge,respectively. The blank formed in the shaping die is shown in positionon this lower portion of the cutting die and is provided with a rightangle in one corner to permit approximate location of the blank on thedie. This blank is adapted to be trimmed to the form shown in Fig. 5,cutting away the material adjacent each end of the individual embossings1 and cutting the material 6 between the embossings as indicated at 13in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The cutting die is also adapted to form ascored line or perforation 1 on each unembossed portion 6 of the blankto permit folding of the blank to the form shown in Figs. v6 and 7 ofthe drawing.

In Fig. 2 I have shown an upper die member 15 which is provided withcutting edges 16 shaped similarly to the shape of the blank shown in 5of the drawing and adapted is immaterial.

blank on the lower die, the variations in the blanks are such thattrimming is not evenly performed, unless the blanks are centered on thedie. I accordingly employ a series of centering devices shown in Figs. 3and 8 of the drawing which project from the surface of the die adistance slightly greater than the cutting members 16. As shown, thesecentering devices are arranged in pairs on each side of the cutters 16and progressively decrease inheight from the center toward each end ofthe die. The two center pairs of centering devices 17 are adapted toengage the two sides of the center embossing and the adjacent side ofthe embossing at each side of the center and have a tendency to movethem toward the end of the die. Similar centering devices 18, 19, 20, 21and 22 are arranged toward each end of the die and are adapted to engagethe embossings in pairs as the die is closed so that the embossings areproperly centered in the die. The detailed construction of the centeringdevice is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. As shown, it consists of astrip which may be formed of sponge rubber or other yieldable materialextending over a considerable length of the embossing as shown in Fig.S2 of the drawing. It may he covered with a covering of cloth, paper,thin metal or fabric as indicated at 24.

The specific construction of the centering device and the material ofwhich it is made It will be apparent that the device may be of the formshown or of any other suitable form adapted to engage the raised portionof an embossing and properly center it on the die. Itwill also beapparent that any compressible or yieldable material may be employed forthis purpose so that the centering device will engage the sides of theindividual cigar representations before cutting or scoring actuallytakes place and will then compress to permit closing of the die andcutting of the blank.

The blank shown in Fig. 5 is adapted to be folded along the perforatedlines 14 to the form shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing and mountedon a suitable support.

I claim 1. A cutting die for an embossed sheet having a plurality ofspaced embossings comprising a supporing member on which the sheet isadapted to be positioned, a second member cooperating therewith, cuttingmembers carried by said second member to trim the sheet, and centeringdevices carried by said second member and adapted to engage theembossings to properly position said sheet with respect to said cuttingmembers.

2. A cutting die for an embossed sheet having a plurality of spacedembossings comprising a supporting member, a guide arranged on saidmember to initially position the sheet, a second member cooperating withsaid supporting member, cutting members carried by said second member totrim the sheet, and centering devices carried by said second member andadapted to engage the embossings to properly position said sheet withrespect to said cutting members.

3. A cutting die for an embossed sheet having a plurality of spacedembossings comprising a supporting member on which the sheet is adaptedto be positioned, a. second member cooperating therewith, cuttingmembers carried by said second member to trim the sheet and a pluralityof yieldablc centering devices projecting from the surface of saidsecond member a greater distance than said cutting members and adaptedto engage the embossings to properly position said sheet with respect tosaid cutting members.

4. A cutting die for an embossed sheet having a plurality of spacedembossings comprising a supporting member on which the sheet is adaptedto be positioned, a second member cooperating therewith, cutting memberscarried by said second member to trim the sheet and a plurality ofyieldable centering devices projecting from the surface of said secondmember a greater distance than said cutting members, said centeringdevices being of various heights and adapted to suecessively engagepairs of said embossings.

5. A cutting die for an embossed sheet having a plurality of spacedembossings comprising a supporting member on which the sheet is adaptedto be positioned, a second member cooperating therewith, cutting memberscarried by said second member to trim the sheet and a plurality ofyieldable centering devices projecting from the surface of said secondmember a greater distance than said cutting members, said centeringdevices being of successively decreasing height from the center of thedie toward, each end.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

LOUIS E. SHAW.

